kul'-er, kul'-erz: The word translated "color" in the King James Version is `ayin, which literally means "eye" or "appearance," and has been so translated in the Revised Version (British and American). In the New Testament the Greek prophasis, has the meaning of pretense or show (Acts 27:30; compare Revelation 17:4 the King James Version). The references to Joseph's coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3, 13, 12) and "garments of divers colors" (2 Samuel 13:18, 19) probably do not mean the color of the garment at all, but the form, as suggested in the American Revised Version, margin, "a long garment with sleeves." In Judges 5:30 the word for "dip" or "dye" appears in the original and has been so translated in the American Standard Revised Version. (see DYE). In 1 Chronicles 29:2 riqmah, meaning "variegated," hence, "varicolored," is found. In Isaiah 54:11, pukh is used. This name was applied to the sulfide of antimony (Arabic kochl) used for painting the eyes. Hence, the American Revised Version, margin rendering "antimony" instead of "fair colors" (see PAINT). In Ezekiel 16:16 Tala', is found, meaning "covered with pieces" or "spotted," hence, by implication "divers colors."

Although the ancient Hebrews had no specific words for "color," "paint" or "painter," still, as we know, they constantly met with displays of the art of coloring among the Babylonians (Ezekiel 23:14) and Egyptians and the inhabitants of Palestine Pottery, glazed bricks, glassware, tomb walls, sarcophagi, wood and fabrics were submitted to the skill of the colorist. This skill probably consisted in bringing out striking effects by the use of a few primary colors, rather than in any attempt at the blending of shades which characterizes modern coloring. That the gaudy show of their heathen neighbors attracted the children of Israel is shown by such passages as Judges 8:27Ezekiel 23:12, 16.

Two reasons may be given for the indefiniteness of many of the Biblical references to color.

(1) The origin of the Hebrew people: They had been wandering tribes or slaves with no occasion to develop a color language.

(2) Their religious laws: These forbade expression in color or form (Exodus 20:4). Yielding to the attractions of gorgeous display was discouraged by such prophets as Ezekiel, who had sickened of the abominations of the Chaldeans (Ezekiel 23:14, 15, 16); "And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes" (Ezekiel 20:7).

Indefiniteness of color language is common to oriental literature, ancient and modern. This does not indicate a want of appreciation of color but a failure to analyze and define color effects. The inhabitants of Syria and Palestine today delight in brilliant colors. Bright yellow, crimson, magenta and green are used for adornment with no evident sense of fitness, according to the foreigners' eyes, other than their correspondence with the glaring brightness of the eastern skies. A soapmaker once told the writer that in order to make his wares attractive to the Arabs he colored them a brilliant crimson or yellow. A peasant chooses without hesitation a flaring magenta or yellow or green zun-nar (girdle), rather than one of somber hues. The oriental student in the chemical or physical laboratory often finds his inability to distinguish or classify color a real obstacle. His closest definition of a color is usually "lightish" or "darkish." This is not due to color blindness but to a lack of education, and extends to lines other than color distinctions. The colloquial language of Palestine today is poor in words denoting color, and an attempt to secure from a native a satisfactory description of some simple color scheme is usually disappointing. The harmonious color effects which have come to us from the Orient have been, in the past, more the result of accident (see DYE) than of deliberate purpose, as witness the clashing of colors where modern artificial dyes have been introduced.

This inability of the peoples of Bible lands to define colors is an inheritance from past ages, a consideration which helps us to appreciate the vagueness of many of the Biblical references.

The following color words occur in the King James Version or Revised Version:

(1) bay,

(2) black,

(3) blue,

(4) brown,

(5) crimson,

(6) green,

(7) grey,

(8) hoar,

(9) purple,

(10) red,

(11) scarlet,

(12) sorrel,

(13) vermilion,

(14) white,

(15) yellow.

In addition there are indefinite words indicating mixtures of light and dark:

(a) grisled (grizzled),

(b) ringstraked (ringstreaked),

(c) speckled,

(d) spotted.

(1) Bay or Red:

Bay or red is more properly translated "strong" in the Revised Version (British and American).

The Hebrew 'adhom, is from dam, "blood," hence, "bloodlike." This is one of the three distinctive color words mentioned in the Old Testament (see GREEN; WHITE), and is found in most of the references to red. Four other words are used:

Scarlet and crimson colors were probably from the same source (see CRIMSON; DYE). tola`ath, or derivatives have been translated by both "scarlet" and "crimson" (Greek kokkinos). A Chaldaic word for purple has thrice been translated "scarlet" in the King James Version (Daniel 5:7, 16, 29). Scarlet is applied to fabrics or yarn used

This word occurs once in the Revised Version (British and American) (Zechariah 1:8).

(13) Vermilion:

This word, shashar, occurs in two passages (Jeremiah 22:14Ezekiel 23:14). Vermilion of modern arts is a sulfide of mercury. It is not at all improbable that the paint referred to was an oxide of iron. This oxide is still taken from the ground in Syria and Palestine and used for decorative outlining.

Perrot and Chipiez, History of Art in Ancient Egypt, History of Art in Chaldea and Assyria, History of Art in Phoenicia and its Dependencies; Wilkinson, The Ancient Egyptians; Jewish Encyclopedia;EB; Delitzsch, Iris.

969. berullos -- beryl... Transliteration: berullos Phonetic Spelling: (bay'-rool-los) Short Definition: a beryl Definition: a beryl, a precious stone of various colors, the best known ...//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/969.htm - 6k

A Full-Length Picture in Colors.... The Plan for Jesus' Coming A Full-length Picture in Colors. These are but the beginnings. It is in the prophetic books, the third .../.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/a full-length picture in colors.htm

The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors... THE STORY OF JOSEPH AND HIS COAT OF MANY COLORS. ... Jacob gave to Joseph a robe or coat of bright colors, made somewhat like a long cloak with wide sleeves. .../.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of joseph and.htm

Letter xvii. Harmony of Christian Character.... according to the laws of architecture; and the sensation of delight is still more exquisite, on viewing the harmonious combination of colors, as exhibited in .../.../letter xvii harmony of christian.htm

It is the Same in the Case of Girls. ...... Boys play football, why shouldn't girls play football; boys have school colors, why shouldn't girls have school-colors; boys go in hundreds to day-schools, why .../.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 41 it is the.htm

Practical Observations.... Take a map and delineate those countries which are most enlightened in bright colors, then shade others more and more as you approach barbarism and ignorance. .../.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/practical observations.htm

The terms relative to color, occurring in the Bible, may be arranged in two classes, the first including those applied to the description of natural objects, the second those artificial mixtures which were employed in dyeing or painting. The purple and the blue were derived from a small shellfish found in the Mediterranean, and were very costly, and hence they were the royal colors. Red , both scarlet and crimson, was derived from an insect resembling the cochineal. The natural colors noticed in the Bible are white, black, red, yellow and green. The only fundamental color of which the Hebrews appear to have had a clear conception was red ; and even this is not very often noticed.

Dyeing... An analysis of the various Biblical references shows but four colors which were produced on cloth by dyeing, namely, purple, blue (violet), crimson and scarlet .../d/dyeing.htm - 14k

Dye (1 Occurrence)... An analysis of the various Biblical references shows but four colors which were produced on cloth by dyeing, namely, purple, blue (violet), crimson and scarlet .../d/dye.htm - 15k

Divers (36 Occurrences)... have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of .../d/divers.htm - 20k

Ornamented (14 Occurrences)... Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. (See NIV). .../o/ornamented.htm - 10k

White (756 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Reflecting to the eye all the rays of the spectrum combined; not tinted with any of the proper colors or their mixtures; having the color of pure .../w/white.htm - 9k

Paint (3 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) Fig.: To color, stain, or tinge; to adorn or beautify with colors; to diversify with colors. 3. (vt) To form in colors a .../p/paint.htm - 10k

Sleeves (4 Occurrences)... Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. (See RSV). .../s/sleeves.htm - 7k

Color (18 Occurrences)... of light to the eye, by which individual and specific differences in the hues and tints of objects are apprehended in vision; as, gay colors; sad colors, etc. .../c/color.htm - 39k

Varicolored (3 Occurrences)... Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. (See NAS). .../v/varicolored.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Colors (12 Occurrences)

Ephesians 5:13 But everything can be tested by the light and thus be shown in its true colors; for whatever shines of itself is light. (WEY)

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors.(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 37:23 It happened, when Joseph came to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 37:32 They took the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, "We have found this. Examine it, now, whether it is your son's coat or not."(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Judges 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?(KJV WBS)

2 Samuel 13:18 She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Samuel 13:19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Isaiah 54:11 "You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.(WEB ASV WBS)

Isaiah 63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, with blood-red robes from Bozrah? he whose clothing is fair, stepping with pride in his great strength? I whose glory is in the right, strong for salvation.(See NAS)

Ezekiel 16:16 You took of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 17:3 and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)